At night, as Eustaf predicted, the raindrops grew stronger, pouring rain that could be named as "lips."
In addition to the night, Count Illuminati's messenger arrived through the rainstorm, which was cloudy with visibility.
The letter in her arms was not wet at all. Ran somehow felt sorry for the messenger and ordered her servant to serve him new clothes and warm meals.
The maidens were curious about whether it was important, but they didn't dare say it. Ran opened the letter and read it and jumped out of her seat.
-The flowers have been plucked.
It was because of this first sentence.
'You saved it!'
Her heart trembled and she quickly read the following sentence.
-But as expected, I couldn't get the tea leaves. An exclusive merchant wants to see the buyer.
'Euaaa'
Ran bit her lips and sat down.
'What should I do?'
My mind went round and round and round. No, it's an illegal dumping ground now, so can't we just go and break everything down?
Oh, so they're gonna destroy the evidence or move it somewhere?
In fact, the Metropolitan Guard cannot be unaware of the fact that such a large-scale speculation site is operating.
I'm sure it's connected somewhere, but it's not my job to find that connection and break it.
'That's only for the imperial family.'
However, given the appearance of the crown prince or the emperor, it seems impossible to do such a thing.
'It is impossible to move Lazia's soldiers in the capital.'
Moreover, they recently made Ruth's nickname into Bifulco.
In other words, I am not trying to go back to Lazian territory for no reason. She was trying to get out of society by showing her nuance that she was looking into the emperor's mood as much as possible.
'I'll have no choice but to visit them myself.'
Ran decided so. If you want a buyer, I'll meet you.
No matter how they came out of there, Ran was once a "spirit." If you want to detain someone, you can call
"Istarif."
Or you can call the higher spirits.
'I'm afraid I'll have enough of that, but-'
I don't know what the price is, but it's important to hold the cards that can be used.
Besides, Ran thought there would be no real idiots trying to catch the Duchess.
Identity is absolute to those who have lived under the status system. There was something that was not understood by the modern sense of Ran.
'So is Eustaf's obsession with Lazia.'
Ran closed her eyes thinking so. I've already saved his sister, but it's too late to pull out.
We have to get Lumiere out somehow.
Ran took a deep breath and handed the letter to Dimodia.
"Burn it."
Dimodia lit the candle faithfully and burned the letter. The lights in the room were replaced by magic lamps, so they had to light candles to burn the letters.
Ran glanced at Dimodia.
'Take Dia with me.'
Since she's The Viridescent Shadow, she must be talented.
'I can't take Ross with me.'
Then I think things will get too big. Ross is ridiculous. What is he going to do?
Ran replied to Count Illuminati by having him bring a writing instrument.
-I'll go see the tea leaves myself.
After writing just one sentence, she waited for the ink to dry by lighting the lamp for a while, and Ran leaned on the sofa to tell the messenger to deliver it.
I couldn't think of a better way.
"It's a relief that the heavy rain has delayed the schedule."
Ran muttered and stood up and said.
"Dia, can you come here for a second?"
"Yes."
Dimodia came close quickly.
"I'm trying to sneak out somewhere. Can you help me?"
Dimodia's purple eyes carefully looked at Ran. Ran said with a grin.
"It's better if Dia comes with me."
"With me?"
"Yes, I need an escort."
"Well, I'm..."
Ran somehow smiled at the hesitating Dimodia. Oh, I know you're from here.
"Don't you like it?"
"No, I'll go."
"Then keep it a secret from everyone. All right?"
Dimodia bowed her head at the words she added with emphasis.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Yes, then I beg you."
Ran nodded.
'As for Eustaf...'
I don't think we need to let him know. It's hard to explain.
Ran decided to sneak away from the problem. After this work, there is a high possibility that I will not see Lumiere, but I didn't want to let him know.
'Compare to the story from before, I think you'll be comfortable with me a little bit.'
Ran smiled a pleased smile. Feeling recognized by the male protagonist?
We can say goodbye safely like this. It remains the same in my opinion, but these days, there was also a small hope in the corner of my heart that I might be left as a Lady of Lazia.
'But I can't be relieved.'
For Eustaf, Lazia is really precious, so I won't leave any disturbance there.
Ran thought it was polite to leave even if Eustaf told her to stay.
*******
On the second day, Count Illuminati sent a letter. It was a pretty explicit letter to announce the period of tea leaf distribution.
'You write your letter like no one is going to look at it. You may want to take a look, though.'
Ran thought so and told Dimodia the date of her sneaking out. It was just that evening.
She told Eustaf that she would go to bed early because she was not feeling well, and Ran sat in her bedroom waiting for Dimodia.
At night, Dimodia came back with clothes and disguise tools.
We know each other, but pretending not to know, Ran said, "Good job you brought this," and Dimodia replied shyly, "I think you need this."
Ran dressed up as a man.
'It's been a long time since I've seen pants. It's so comfortable.'
Ran thought so and moved her legs a few times. Wearing waterproof long boots, the hair was tightly grounded and then pressed down on the silk hat.
She wore a shirt, a vest, a coat, and a waterproof cape instead of a raincoat. It was worn in layers, so it was indistinguishable whether it was a man or a woman. Dimodia also dressed neatly as a man. The difference was that she tied her hair up without wearing a hat. In addition, she looked like a completely different person in the dark with thick makeup.
"Let's go, Lord."
Her tone has become somewhat stiff.
'Is this the real? Or what?'
With that thought, Ran sneaked out of the house on the bedroom terrace. Dimodia left the maid's back door open, and the two escaped like two mice in the rainy darkness.
"I didn't expect you to come like this."
Count Illuminaty, who was waiting at the rendezvous, spoke low. He was accompanied by one of his knights, and he was dressed differently than usual.
Rather than aristocrats, they were like rich commoners.
"It's important."
Ran said so, watching the rain dripping from the hat pack.
"I can't wear this hat anymore. Let's move the place right away."
"There's something you need to be careful about before you go."
Ran stared at him in the dark. A lamp held by Count Illuminati was dimly illuminated in the rain.
"Never say your real name. I don't care what you call me."
"All right"
"If something happens, put your life first."
"I'm going to live a long life."
Ran's words spread a smile on the ear of Count Illuminati.
"And you should never be nervous or show that you really want something."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"In fact, in negotiations, Lord is better than I am."
Ran laughed lightly with hahaha.
"That's a graceful assessment."
"Everyone in this capital knows."
"Some people don't."
"That's stupid."
Ran grinned and said, "Let's go," and the count nodded.
Without a carriage, the four walked quickly through the streets where rain fell. Count Illuminati explained that it is an alley where the carriage cannot even enter anyway.
"But what about his sister?"
When asked by Ran, Count Illuminati briefly talked about how he rescued her.
Ran poked her eyes as she heard the story. As expected, his sister was not in a good environment.
'And that's what the original story said. I thought it was a useless new wave setting while watching it later.'
It's sad that it's true.
In the meantime, Ran was shocked when the party entered the outskirts of the capital.
'There was a slum like this?'
I had no idea that there was a place like this in the capital.
'No, where are we spending all our taxes on?'
Of course, they use it to eat and play. But why are there so many slums in the Empire? Of course, it's poverty, even though they can't save it.
Ran was surprised because it was bigger than she thought.
The alley at night without a street lamp was dark. Only the red back blinked and shook in the rain.
Perhaps because of the heavy rain, the smell was less, but the smell and fishy smell were still floating in the air.
'I can see why Dia brought me long boots.'
Ran thought so and thought it was a good thing it was night. I can't see the muddy mud that's being stepped on.
Through such a narrow alley, Count Illuminati reached an open place. It was an alley full of red lights.
Among them, the count entered a bar that looked quite large.
It was dark inside. The loud sound and the smell of alcohol spread suddenly. It's a double-decker structure, drinking alcohol downstairs and upstairs.
'He must be working.'
Ran thought so and put on her hat more.
"Welcome!"
The clerk quickly approached, rubbing his palms. Count Illuminati replayed,
"Tell Arca we have a visitor."
The clerk answered with a surprised look, "Yes, yes," and a sound came from upstairs.
"Who is this? You're finally here! Come on up!"
When Ran looked up, holding her hat with her fingertips, a tall, rugged man standing between the two big men was smiling.
"Is that him?"
When Ran asked in a low voice, the count nodded.
Ran rubbed the soles on the foot mat moderately and followed the count upstairs. The guided room was quite large and decorated.
'Cheap vulgarity.'
Ran looked at the carpet on the floor, judging so. The color was colorful, but it didn't go well with the atmosphere in the room. There were also statues that were not known whether they were gold plated or real gold.
It was colorful under the candle, but if you look closely, it was cheap, and it was messy because it was gathered.
"It's an honor for the buyer to come in person. My name is Arca and I'm in charge of a small stadium."
Arca quickly sat on the sofa in the upper seat, twisting his mustache.
"Because you said you'll have to meet me."
Ran answered instead, raising her hand to block Count Illuminati from trying to say something.
So, here we go.
When he heard her voice, Arca's eyes were distinctive.
'She's a girl?'
Which wife wants to buy a gladiator?
"I'd like to check first to see if it's what I want before I buy it. I believe in this way, but you don't."
Arca nodded as Ran alternately pointed to the Count and Arca.
"Of course, Come on in!"
When Arca shouted, the back door opened and the man walked in with a heavy chain sound. I could tell at a glance that he was a gladiator.
'Lumiere!'
Ran shouted inwardly.
The tall man with scarlet hair was bowing his head silently. Wearing a short tunic, the wounds on the limbs were revealed. The wrists and ankles were long handcuffs and shackles.
"Hey, look up."
When Arca said, Lumiere looked up. An expressionless face came to Ran's face and got stuck.
It was the same Lumiere as the face I imagined, no, I saw. She felt her heart beating so fast, but she remained calm to the point.
"How is it? Is it the product you want?"
"That's right."
Ran answered like that and smiled. Then she took her eyes off Lumiere and look at Arca.
"Why did you want to see me?"
"It's because of trust, as you said."
"Trust, I don't have the trust to build with you."
"Is there a transaction without trust?"
Ran laughed lightly, saying Arca's humor and feeling offended.
"Really? Then are you building trust with your slaves?"
Arca's expression is a little stiff.
"What trust do you have with slavery?"
"Really? But from what I hear..."
Ran put her hips against the sofa's back and crossed her arms.
"I hear you're taking that slave's sister."
Lumiere slowly lifted his eyes and looked at Ran. Arca said in embarrassment.
"What does that matter, wait. Don't tell me..."
"Is that where my sister used to be? A coral reef? I heard they were attacked a while ago and burned down."
"It was you!"
Arca jumped up from his seat. His face turned sour.
"Why does that happen?"
Ran spoke in a puzzled voice.
"All I know is, I'm taking the girl who was there right now."
"You-!"
The big men next to Arca pulled out the sword with their ugly faces. Then Dimodia and Count quickly blocked Ran.
Arca said huffing and puffed.
"The girl needs medicine. It's a medicine that only I can give!"
"A mixture of sleeping pills and wine? A real substitute for cheap drugs?"
Arca's face turned sour when Ran sarcastically said so. Lumiere looked up.
"Right now, that girl..."
Lumiere grabbed Arca's head without a sound as he shouted. And he turned his head with a blow that no one expected.
Bam!.
There was a small sound and Arca's throat turned. And before Arca's body fell forward, Lumiere picked up a long paper knife on his desk and stuck it deep into the eyes of a big man standing next to him.
Only then did Arca's body touch the floor.